Apprenticeships & traineeships: How to find them

Apprenticeships and traineeships are a great way to start a career and earn while you learn.

Anyone aged 15 or upwards can become a trade apprentice or trainee.

The most common way of landing an apprenticeship or traineeship is to find the employer yourself, however, I have listed options where a third party will find the opportunity for you.

Elizabeth Kelly from the Vocational Education in Schools Directorate, says school students and leavers need to “go about finding an apprenticeship in the same way they would a job”

“There’s no great way or hugely successful way of doing it. Just like finding a job you need to devote time to it and focus on the area you want to work in,” she says.

Her top tips for finding an apprenticeship or traineeship include:-

Approaching employers directly

“Many people get offers from employers they are already doing a part-time job for,” Ms Kelly says.

“If you’re not already working for someone, then telephone, write and or visit employers who you think you might like to work for.

“You should also approach large organisations that you know offer apprenticeships or traineeships [for example a large energy company or a government transport company like rail or bus].”

Look for job vacancies in your local and state newspapers as well as on major job boards.

“Even though employers don’t often advertise apprenticeships or traineeships you can work out from the other trade jobs they may be advertising in that they would be worthwhile approaching,” Ms Kelly explains.

Visit your nearest Job Network office or Centre Link

“Job Networks or Centre Links have Australian Job search databases. The database is accessed by a touch screen computer screen. A lot of large organisations and employers list their apprenticeship and traineeship positions.”

Contact with your local Australian Apprenticeship Centre
“Australian Apprenticeship centres are in direct contact with employers so they are definitely worthwhile speaking to about what apprenticeships and traineeships they know of that are available,” Ms Kelly says.

Get help from a Group Training Organisation
“Group Training Organisations (GTO)] are definitely a good source for traineeship and apprenticeship opportunities” Ms Kelly says.

A GTO acts as primary employer to apprentices and trainees hiring them out to other businesses known as “˜host employers’. GTOs will help those looking for an apprenticeship or traineeship find a “host” employer

To find the contact details of an industry specific GTO visit the website for the Group Training Association.

Other sources of information

Industry Associations

“Other sources of information include industry associations who can advise about skills shortages and industry job opportunities and which employers are looking to hire,” Ms Kelly says.

Find associations by Googling the trade and your state for example, “plumbers, NSW” and then looking for the association or industry group listing.

Useful Australian Apprenticeship links
The Australian Apprenticeships Job Pathways service is run by the Australian Government and provides access to the training and job pathways available in each state across all industries.

The Australian Apprenticeships Training Information Service, provides information on the organisations that “market and implement” Australian Apprenticeships inclduing about registered training organisations [RTOs] and Australian Apprenticeships Centres

TAFE in each state
Check out your state TAFE for useful information on apprenticeships and traineeships Bear in mind that you can not apply to study for an apprenticeship or traineeship at TAFE unless you have secured an employer.